Act One
True West is about the sibling rivalry between two estranged brothers who have reconnected. The play begins with brothers Austin and Lee sitting in their mother's house. This is the first time they have seen each other in five years. They are not on good terms, but Austin attempts to appease his older brother, who is more dominant. We learn that their mother is on vacation in Alaska and that Austin is housesitting. Austin is trying to work on his screenplay but Lee continually distracts him with nonsense questions. The two brothers seem on edge with each other. When Austin suggests that Lee leaves, Lee threatens to steal things from the neighborhood. Austin calms him down and the night ends with them on neutral terms.
Lee talks about the security level of their mother's house, and how Lee went into the desert to find their father. Austin then tells Lee to leave the house because a film producer, Saul, is coming to look at Austin's screenplay (described as a "period piece"). Lee agrees to leave in exchange for Austin's car keys. Austin is reluctant at first but relents, and Lee promises that he return it back by six. Lee departs.
Saul and Austin are discussing their agreement when Lee enters with a stolen television set. Saul and Lee discuss golf and make plans to play the next day, excluding Austin because he does not play, despite his desire that Lee have nothing to do with Saul. Lee proposes a script idea to Saul and Saul reacts positively.
Lee describes his story out loud. Austin writes it down, but stops, saying it does not resemble real life. The brothers quarrel and Austin asks Lee for his car keys back. Lee assumes Austin is trying to make him leave, and Lee says he cannot be kicked out. Austin says he would not kick him out because he is his brother. Lee counters that being brothers means nothing because in-family murders are most common. Austin assures him they will not be driven to murder over a movie script. The two admit to being envious of each other's lives, Lee returns the car keys, but later asks for them back. The scene closes with Austin typing Lee's story.
Act Two
Lee returns from his golf game at noon, with a set of golf clubs that Saul has given him. He tells Austin that the clubs are part of an advance that Saul has promised him for the story idea outline that he "dictated" to Austin. They celebrate until Lee informs Austin that he expects Austin to write the screenplay. Austin questions this, knowing he has his own work, but Lee goes on to inform him that Saul has chosen to drop Austin's screenplay. Austin warns Lee that he needs to be careful with messing about with this line of work and that he has a lot at stake on his own project. The scene ends with Austin threatening to leave and go to the desert as Lee tries to calm him down.
Austin confronts Saul about his decision to buy Lee's screenplay. He argues that Saul only offered to buy the screenplay because he lost a bet on the golf course. Saul wants Austin to write both his and Lee's story, but Austin refuses. Austin thinks that Lee's story is without merit or plausibility. Due to Austin's rejection of the job, Saul decides to drop Austin's story and to find a different writer for Lee's story. The scene ends with Saul making plans for lunch with Lee.
Austin is drunk and annoying Lee, who is now at the typewriter, laboriously trying, hunt-and-peck style, to type out a screenplay. Austin taunts his brother with advice and says that this is the first time he has enjoyed spending time with Lee since he arrived. He insists that Lee is not a real screenwriter, and when Lee informs him that he has an advance coming on his script, Austin claims he could burgle houses just as well as Lee can. Lee bets that he could not even steal a toaster, but they cannot agree on the stakes. Instead, Lee asks in earnest for Austin's help with the technical parts of the writing, offering to pay him money and then disappear like their father did and leave Austin alone. Austin argues about how well their father ended up, and the scene closes as they drink together.
Austin is polishing toasters that he stole while Lee is smashing a typewriter early in the morning. The two continue to do this while they are carrying on a conversation. Austin is proud of what he has done. Lee wants to see a woman, but Austin refuses because he is married. Lee becomes angry while on the telephone with the operator because he cannot find a pen to write down what the operator is saying. In his search for a pen or pencil, Lee strews the contents of all the kitchen drawers on the floor. Austin begs Lee to go to the desert with him because he thinks there is nothing for him where he is. The brothers make a deal that Austin will write the play for Lee if Lee takes him to the desert.
In the final scene, the house is in shambles and Lee and Austin are working vigorously on their script when their mother walks in, suitcases in hand. She stares at her sons, mouth agape, until Lee finally notices her. She is stunned by her sons' appearance and the state of her house, but she remains calm. She announces that she is expecting a visit from Pablo Picasso. Her sons tell her that Picasso has been dead for some years. Austin tells her that he and Lee are going to go into the desert, but Lee says they might have to postpone the trip because he does not think Austin is cut out for the desert lifestyle. Austin responds by attempting to strangle Lee with the telephone cord. Their mother says that she is going to a motel because she does not recognize the house as hers. Lee ceases struggling and lies inert, and Austin finally lets go. He is worried for a second that he has killed his brother. As Austin moves for the door, Lee rises with fire in his eyes. The two brothers face one another, fists raised, as the lights fade.
